Cricothyrotomy needle



May 11, 1965 L. ABELSON cmcowmmowom NEEDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March8, 19a;

FIG.3

UPPER JAW Low ER TONGUE JAW EPIGLOTTIS CRICOTHYROTOMY THYROID 4CARTILAGE ESOPHAGUS TRACHEA INVENTOR. Louis Abglson BY M ATTORNEYS a 11,1965 L. ABELSQN 3,182,663

CRICOTHYROTOMY NEEDLE Filed March 8. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.Louis Abelson ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,182,663 CRICOTHYROTOMYNEEDLE Louis Abelson, 585 McLean Ave., Yonkers, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 94,287 2 Claims. (Cl. 128305) Thisinvention relates to a cricothyrotomy needle.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a cricothyrotomy needleof simple construction so that it can be easily carried in a doctorspocket or case or is readily fitted into emergency kits but which,nevertheless, is effective so that, in emergency situations, noadditional apparatus is required to utilize the device in acuteobstruction of the larynx. i

The objects of the invention are attained by providing a curved tubefitted with a stilette having a handle at one end, shaft that fitswithin the tube which is pointed at the opposite end and of such alength that the point is adapted to extend beyond that end of the tubewhich is to extend inside the trachea when the handle is against theouter end thereof. The tube is provided with means adapted to show whenthe tissue above the cricoid has been penetrated and with a flange whichis adapted to rest on the neck of the patient when the needle is inplace. The flange is provided with means adapted to indicate thedirection the curved end of tube takes when within the trachea.

The outer end of the tube is provided with lock fitting which can beattached to a tubing. The tubing is provided with an adapter adapted tofit any of the oxygen or anesthesia machines so that if such machinesare available they may be used for inflating the lungs. The lungs mayalso be artificially inflated by blowing directly through the adapter ifa machine is not readily available.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the assembled needle of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cricothyrotomy needle together withthe tracheotomy tubing.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the tube of the needle with the stiletteremoved.

FIG. 4 is a view in cross section illustrating the position of the tubein a patient.

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the adapter means at the end of the adaptertubing.

As indicated in the exploded view of FIG. 2, the device of the inventioncomprises the stilette 10, the curved tube 22 and preferably the adaptertubing 30. The stilette comprises a curved needle-like prong 11 which issharply pointed at one end 12 and comprises an enlarged handle or knob13. Adjacent to thearea where prong 11 joins the handle 13, the prong 11includes an enlarged portion 14 adapted to provide a fairly tight fit inthe tube connection 26. The intermediate shaft portion of the stilette10 is of smaller diameter than the internal diameter of curved tube 22except that in the region 15 just back of the point 12 the shaft isenlarged to provide for a tight fit against the rim 21 of the tube sothat the stilette fits in the tube to provide a structure which issubstantially unitary in appearance and operation until the stilette isremoved from the tube. If desired, the rim 21 may project inwardlysomewhat and is beveled inwardly.

The hollow-needle part 20 comprises a curved tube 22 with an internalpassage which is slightly greater in diameterthan the diameter of theintermediate portion of the shaft 11 of stilette 10. As stated above,the end rim 21 of tube 20 is beveled and, if desired, swaged inwardlytoward the stilette end 15. Approximately P /2" from the rim 21 is aring marking 23 about the tube 20. This ring marking 23 is not deeplycut into the tube but must be clearly identifiable thereon.Approximately 2" along ice the curved linear path back from the rim 21of tube 20, a disk-like flange 24 is positioned. The flange 24 is fixedon the tube 20 in any desirable way and is approximately at right anglesto the axis of the tube 22 at the point where it is attached to saidtube. At least one radial portion of the disk 24 contains acharacteristic mark such as the notch 25 shown in FIG. 3. The mark 25can be a notch as shown, or any other shape of notch or a marking onthat side of disk 24 which faces the handle 13 may be provided. Theunique function of the ring 23, the disk 24 and the mark 25 will bedescribed below in connection with the use of the device. Preferably,however, the notch 25 appears on the disk 24 at a point which is exactlyopposite the projection of tube rim 21 (see FIG. 3). The diameter of thepassage of the tubular element may be varied from about 1.5-4 mm., ormore, for example. A very satisfactory radius of curvature for thestilette and tubular shaft is around 2". The curved portion coversapproximately a quadrant of a circle from the rim 21 to the flange 24.

Back of the disk 24, the needle part 20 is provided with a portion 26adapted to receive a conventional tubing adapter for connecting to ananesthesia machine, for example. A vent 37 is provided in the side ofadapter 31 to regulate the amount of oxygen forced into the lungs of thepatient.

As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional adapter 31 fits onto portion 26.Connected to the adapter is a tube 32 and a second adapter 33. Thesecond adapter which is not a conventional one is shown in detail inFIG. 3. This adapter 33 includes relatively small tube portion 34 at oneend, which fits onto tube 32, and a second, similar tube portion 35 atthe open end. Between the two smaller tube portions 34 and 35 is theenlarged hollow frustoconical portion 36 which converges toward the tubeportion 35. As shown in FIG. 5, the smaller tube end 35 is adapted tofit onto a tube 40 of the size ordinarily found with anesthesia machinesused by dentists whereas the frustoconical portion of the adapter 33 isadapted to fit tightly with the tubing 41 of larger anesthesia machines.

The needle 20 with the stilette 10 in place, as shown in FIG. 1 may becarried in a small case in the pocket or kit of a doctor or first aidadministrator. If a patient is in danger of asphyxiating due to someacute obstruction of the larynx, the doctor palpates the thyroidcartilage (Adams apple) between the second finger and the thumb, thefirst finger then locates the interval between the thyroid and cricoidcartilages. The needle with the stilette is place in inserted in thisinterval for a depth up to the marker 23 /2 inch) whereupon the stiletteis removed. The needle is then forced inwardly with the notch 25 of disk24 upwardly towards the chin of the patient (as shown in FIG. 4). Whenthe disk 24 rests against the skin of the patients neck and the notch 25upwardly, the disk may be taped to the neck. If the insertion of theneedle itself does notstimulate respiration (as it very often does),oxygen may be artificially supplied through the adapter 26, fitting 31,tube 32, etc. Oxygen may be supplied from an anesthesia machine by meansof adapter 33 (FIG. 5) or by blowing into adapter 33.

The marking 23 permits the physician to inject the needle the correctdistance before removing the stilette 10. The removal of the stilette 10just as soon as the necessary portion of the flesh is punctured preventsany injury to the trachea. The disk 24 and the notch thereon provide anindicator for preventing any dislocation of the tube or any necessity ofprobing with the tube 20 or its rim 21 after it has been introduced intothe trachea.

The features and principles underlying the invention de- '3 scribedabove in connection with specific examplifications will suggest to thoseskilled in the art many other modifications thereof. It is accordinglydesired that the appended claims shall not be limited to any specificfeature or details thereof.

I claim:

1. In a cricothyrotomy needle a curved tubular part adapted to extendinto the trachea of a patient and a unitary stilette part removablyinserted in said tubular part said stilette part comprising a main shaftportion with an arcuate axis approximately equal in length to a quadrantof a circle having a radius of curvature of approximately 2 inches, saidshaft having an enlarged integral forward end terminating in a sharppoint and handle means at the opposite end,

said tubular part coaxially surrounding the shaft of said stilette,

the axis of said tubular part having a curvature substantially identicalwith that of said stilette part and a length such that the point of thestilette projects from the forward end of the tubular part with thehandle of the stilette resting against the second end thereof,

the forward end of said tubular part comprising an inwardly bevelled rimhaving an internal diameter which tightly fits said enlarged forward endof the shaft of the stilette,

said tubular part comprising permanent slightly indented marking meansextending around the same approximately /2 inch from said rim,

flange means surrounding the tubular part in a plane substantially atright angles to the axis of the tubular part, said plane intersectingthe axis of said tubular part at a point distance from said rim by alength approximately equal to the length of said quadrant, notch meanson said flange means to indicate the position of said tubular part inthe trachea of a patient. 2. The cricothyrotomy needle as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the second end of the tubular part comprises couplingmeans for an oxygen supplying device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 300,285 6/84Russell 128-305 1,740,174 12/29 I-Ievern 128347 1,902,418 3/33 Pilgrim128-350 2,873,742 2/59 Shelden 128351 2,889,089 6/59 Herrick 2852602,922,420 1/ Cheng 128-221 3,030,953 4/62 Koehn 128214 FOREIGN PATENTS529,404 11/40 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES American Cystoscope Maker-s Inc., Catalogue titleCatheters, Drains, Bougies and Accessories, copyright 1938.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.

1. IN A CRICOTHYROTOMY NEEDLY A CURVED TUBULAR PART ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO THE TRACHEA OF A PATIENT AND A UNITARY STILETTE PART REMOVABLY INSERTED IN SAID TUBULAR PART SAID STILETTE PART COMPRISING A MAIN SHAFT PORTION WITH AN ARCUATE AXIS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL IN LENGTH TO A QUADRANT OF A CIRCLE HAVING A RADIUS OF CURVATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES, SAID SHAFT HAVING AN ENLARGED INTEGRAL FORWARD END TERMINATING IN A SHARP POINT AND HANDLE MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE END, SAID TUBULAR PART COAXIALLY SURROUNDING THE SHAFT OF SAID STILETTE, THE AXIS OF SAID TUBULAR PART HAVING A CURVATURE SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL WITH THAT OF SAID STILETTE PART AND A LENGTH SUCH THAT THE POINT OF THE STILETTE PROJECTS FROM THE FORWARD END OF THE TUBULAR PART WITH THE HANDLE OF THE STILETTE RESTING AGAINST THE SECOND END THEREOF, THE FORWARD END OF SAID TUBUALR PART COMPRISING AN INWARDLY BEVELLED RIM HAVING AN INTERNAL DIAMETER WHICH TIGTHLY FITS SAID ENLARGED FORWARD END OF THE SHAFT OF THE STILETTE, SAID TUBULAR PART COMPRISING PERMANENT SLIGHTLY INDENTED MARKING MEANS EXTENDING AROUND THE SAME APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH FROM SAID RIM, FLANGE MEANS SURROUNDING THE TUBULAR PART IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE AXIS OF THE TUBULAR PART, SAID PLANE INTERSECTING THE AXIS OF SAID TUBULAR PART AT A POINT DISTANCE FROM SAID RIM BY A LENGTH APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF SAID QUADRANT, NOTCH MEANS ON SAID FLANGE MEANS TO INDICATE THE POSITION OF SAID TUBULAR PART IN THE TRACHEA OF A PATIENT. 